Main menu

Post navigation

The values of aw(λ) and bw(λ) representing pure water were taken

The values of aw(λ) and bw(λ) representing pure water were taken from Pope & Fry (1997), Sogandares & Fry (1997), Smith & Baker (1981) and Morel (1974). The backscattering coefficients of water bb(λ) were obtained as a result of the spectral inter- and extrapolation of values measured with the HydroScat-4 instrument. The Fournier-Forand scattering phase functions were also used in the modelling ( Fournier & Forand (1994)), and these functions were selected on the basis of the ratio

of bb(λ)/b(λ). For simplification, Selleck Belnacasan the sea surface state was modelled with an assumed low wind speed of 1 m s− 1. Clear sky model conditions and a constant solar zenith angle of 30° were also assumed for all cases. With all these assumptions the remote-sensing reflectances just above the sea surface Rrs(λ) were then modelled for all 83 cases within the spectral range from 400 to 750 nm and with a spectral resolution of 5 nm. However, of these modelled (synthetic) spectra only the values of Rrs(λ) at five bands (445, 490, 555, 645 Cyclopamine solubility dmso and 665 nm) were chosen for further examination (by way of example). The reader should note at this point that the selection of these

spectral bands should be treated purely as a demonstration: they are intended to represent in a PRKD3 simplified manner

different parts of the visible light spectrum (445 and 490 nm bands represent the indigo/blue region, 555 nm the green region, and 645 and 665 nm the red region). This selection was performed in consideration of the existing spectral bands of the MODIS Aqua instrument currently used by the oceanographic community (note that the so-called level 2 products from that satellite sensor include values of Rrs(λ) at 443, 488, 555, 645 and 667 nm; see e.g. the documentation available at http:/oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov). At the same time, when choosing Rrs spectral bands for further analyses, it was also important to choose them relatively close to the bands present in the input data for radiative transfer modelling, especially close to the bands of coefficient an (we recall that the closest an coefficient input bands were 440, 488, 555, 650 and 676 nm). As in the case of the empirical formulas described earlier, statistical analyses of the combined empirical and modelled material were performed. The best-fit power functions representing the relationships between the biogeochemical properties of suspended matter and the remote-sensing reflectances at chosen wavelengths or reflectance ratios were found.